May 15, 1999

FURMAN WOMEN'S TENNIS FALLS TO USC IN NCAA FIRST ROUND

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- The South Carolina women's tennis team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a 5-1 victory over fourth-seeded Furman in a first round NCAA Tournament match Saturday afternoon at Columbia, S.C.

"Iwas a little worried about how we'd play today seeing we haven't played in three weeks," South Carolina head coach Arlo Elkins said. "I didn't think we played as hard as we could and were going to have to play a lot better tomorrow if were going to win. I'm really proud of the way our four freshman played today, winning all five points for us."

The Lady Gamecocks (17-7) wont he first four singles matches to take an early lead. Freshman Tamara Sutton beat Alix Refshuage 6-0, 6-0 at No. 6 singles to get Carolina on the board. Jennifer Radman won her match at No. 3 singles, defeating Furman's Gene Holman 6-3, 6-0. Lynn-Yin Tan finished just minutes later, finishing off her 6-0, 6-3 win over Furman's Jennifer Connell at No. 5. At No. 1 singles Katarina Markovski beat Megan Dunigan 6-3, 6-3 to give USC a 4-0 lead. Furman's Meredith Moore knocked off Celine Regnier 7-5, 6-1 to get the Lady Paladins on the board.

Carolina clinched the match at No. 3 doubles when the team of Radman/Sutton knocked off Furmans team of Connell/Refshuage, 8-0. The No. 4 singles match between USC's Leigh Eichelberger and Furman's Jarrell Starnes and the No. 1 doubles match between Markovski/Regnier and Moore/Holman were called off when Carolina clinched the match.

"Were a lot better than the first time we played South Carolina and I think we proved that today," Furman head coach Debbie Southern said. "We fought hard today but South Carolinas depth wore us down."

Carolina, the No. 1 seed, advances to tomorrow's Regional final at 2 p.m., facing Wake Forest, a 5-0 winner over Virginia Tech earlier today.

Match 2 #1 South Carolina vs. #4 Furman

#1 South Carolina 5

#4 Furman 1 FINAL

Singles

1. Katarina Markovski (SC) def. Megan Dunigan (FU), 6-3, 6-3

2. Meredith Moore (FU) def. Celine Regnier (SC), 7-5, 6-1

3. Jennifer Radman (SC) def. Gene Holman (FU), 6-3, 6-1

4. Leigh Eichelberger (SC) vs. Jarrell Starnes (FU), susp.

5. Lynn-Yin Tan (SC) def. Jennifer Connell (FU), 6-0, 6-3

6. Tamara Sutton (SC) def. Alix Refshuage (FU), 6-0, 6-0

Doubles

1. Markovski/Regnier (SC) leads Moore/Holman (FU), susp.

2. Eichelberger/Tan (SC) vs. Starnes/Dunigan (FU) DNP

3. Radman/Sutton (SC) def. Connell/Refshuage (FU), 8-0

-Courtesy USC Sports Information-